Combined bookcase and desk.



No. 676,95L

Patented lune 25, |90I. J. M. L. HOYLE.

COMBINED BUDKGASE AND DESK.

(Application med Aug. 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

|I lllllllllllll I|L Hjifgzsses 'indien @rares .atterrir @reina JAMES lil. L. HOYLELF JAMESTOVN, MISSOURI.

cov;saresti eookcaes aan seek.

SPEGIFICATIDN forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,951, dated June 25, 19Q1.

l Application filed August 2, 1899. Serial No. 725,905. (No model To (.tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. L. HovLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at J amestown, in the county of Moniteau and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Combined Bookcase and Desk, of which the following is a specitication. y

My invention relates to bookcases, and has for its object to produce a combined bookcase and desk which shall be formed in sections,each.section beingdilferent from the others, yet adapted to be so combined together that when they are assembledl they will form an article of great capacity-and convenience.

The invention consists in the combination and improved construction of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same referencenumeral indicates a corresponding part in each of the views in which it occurs, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved bookcase and desk, part-ly open. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing it open in full lines and closedin dotted lines, and'Fig. 3l is asimilar horizontal view.

Referring more. particularly to the drawings, l, 2, and 3 indicate the sections com` prising my improved bookcase and desk, each of which consists of a main portion or back 4 and two front'portions or doors .5 and 6, so

hinged together that when closed the two front portions will meet in front ofthe main portion and close the saine.

the center. Each front, and two sets of pigeonholes or smaller receptacles on the other side of the partition,

4one set in the back and one in the front.

When the case is closed, either the shelves or the pigeonho'les -ma'y be opened without the necessity of opening the other, the wider por- I prefer to make the front portions of unequal width, which will cause thepoint of separation between them to come at one side of portion 'of each section is provided with horil tion of the front covering the shelves and the narrower portion covering the pigeonholes.

Although-the sections are of the same capacity horizontally, so that their sides will correspond with each other when placed one on top oflrthe other, the vertical capacity is dilferentL-that is, I prefer to make the bottom section of the greatest height for the reception of the largest and heaviest books, the second section of a less height for medium sized books, and the top section of the least height for the reception of the smaller books. The smaller and lighter sections are thus placed at the top, which will make it more convenient in taking down or setting .up the case, as the sections are to be handled witliout moving their contents, and it also permits' of` the heavier books being removed and replaced from the bottom with the least trouble and exertion. Theioottom section should be made of such a height as to support the middle section high enough for a desk, which is higher than is necessary'for the other sections. Y l The middle section is provided with a hinged shelf or leaf 9, which may be lowered to form a desk. The leaf is of a less length vthan the entire width of the section and is supported in its lowered position by means of a cord or chain 10, the rear end of which is secured to the back by means of a hook 1l. By adjustably securing the chain to the hook the inclination of the desk may be raised to suit the convenience of the person using it.

QA portion of the front edge of the bottom of the intermediate section 2 is cut away, so as to expose a portion of the top of the bottom section 1, and the leaf 9 is hingedly connected to the' edge ofthe cut-away portion, so as t0 lie'ush with the bottom of the intermediate section when the leaf is extended to form a desk and also to rest upon the exposed por tion of the bottom section as a support. By i thus cutting away the intermediate section the leaf lies within the outer edges of the section, so that the opposite doors may close flush against the fixed section. That portion of the back to which the feat is hinged is provided with two vertical walls or partitionsv 12 12, one near each side thereof, between which may be placed a series of racks 13 to form receptacles for smaller articles. The partitions 12 and the racksdo not extend out to the edge of the section, as do the other partitions and shelves, thereby causing a space to be formed between the receptacles and the desk when in its elevated position. By locating the partitions 12 near each side of the portion of the section to which the leaf is hinged two narrow spaces are formed of the entire height of the section, thereby affording very convenient receptacles for account-books and the like, and by locating the desk-lid in front of the portioncovered only by the wider door access can be had to it by opening only one`-door instead of two, as4

would have to be done if the doors were of equal width or if the leaf extended' the fnll width of the section. Whenthe doors are open, the desk is located substantially mid- Way of the width of the case, as the small door and its portion of the case are of substantially the same width as the Wider door. yThis gives'convenient access to all portions of the bookcase to aperson seated at the desk. In moving or shipping this section cloth, pa'- per, or other soft material can be placed over the books or other contents of the receptacles and the desk closed over them, which will prevent them from being injured or lost out of their respective places.

To prevent the sections .from becoming separated or moved out of place, they may be connected together by spring hooksor clasps 14, which project beyond the top or bottom of the sections and engage with a loop or catch 15 in the adjoining section. An additional fastening may be provided in the form of strips 16, ,which may be nailed or otherwise secured to the back of the different sections. The doors of each section may be locked or fastened together in any suitable manner, as shown at 17. Beading or strips 18 may be placed over the joints between the doors or sections to make a neat appearance and to keep out the dust.

As above described, it will be seen that by providing the doors with `receptacles or shelves instead of. having them fiat or plain the capacity of the c ase is doubled, and by separating the front into sections vertically and horizontally access-is had to all or any portion of the case, as desired, and the size of the case may be increased or diminished .by adding or removing sections, as I do not limit myself to the tb'l ee sections shown. It is also evident that une middle section may be used alone by being placed on suitable supports to hold it at the proper height for use as a desk. If desired, the bottom section maybe provided with casters in the usual manner.

When it is desired to move the case, the doors of the sections are closed and locked and the sections separated. Each section is then packed or crated by itself without removing or disturbing its contents and moved to the desired place, where the sections may be again assembled, when the case is ready for use as soon as the doors are opened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- A bookcase comprising the vertically-ar- Y ranged separate and independent top bottom and intermediate sections removably supported one upon the other, each section being compiere and composed of a back portion and doors of unequal width hinged to the side walls of the .back portion and arranged to close over the front of the latter,

the desk-lid hinged to the bottom of the intermediate section and inwardly offset from the front edge of the top ofl the bottom section and supported upon the' latter when it is swnng downward to a horizontal position, hooks arranged at the inner faces of the end Walls of the intermediate section, .chains secured to the desk-lid and detachably engaging the hooks, whereby the desk-lid is adjustably connected with the intermediate section,

and the fasteningdevices arranged on the exterior of the side walls of the back portions ofthe sections and detachably connecting the A same, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing asl my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. JAMES M. I.. HOYLE. l Witnesses:

GEORGE GEN'rzscH, J. B. INGRAHM. 

